Artificial leg.



B. KENNEDY. ARTIFICIAL LEG.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22, I916.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

sr rs ARTIFICIAL LEG.

Application filed January 22, 1916.

T0 aZZ "whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, BARTHoLoMEw M. KENNEDY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in Springfield, in the county of Hampden, State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Artificial Legs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon.

The object of my invention is to produce a construction of artificial leg which may be adjusted to accommodate varying conditions and which may be worn with a greater degree of comfort than any like mechanism heretofore produced.

Further objects are indicated in the descriptive portion of the specification and in the claims.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the construction herein shown.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate like parts: Figure 1 is a side elevation illustratlng my improved construction. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same; and Fig. 3 is a section on an enlarged scale taken on line at as of Fig. 2. v

It is well known that the stump frequently shrinks and changes its shape, and it then becomes necessary to take up or adjust some part of the mechanism in order to enable the artificial leg to be worn with comfort. This is especially true with reference to the portion of the stump just below the knee. It is also true that if the band just below the knee be taken up on the back, against the fleshy part of the stump it will cause pain or great uneasiness, while if the compression be taken up uniformly, it will bear evenly on parts capable of taking pressure and no discomfort results.

The band or part a which encompasses the part of the limb above the knee is made of leather or other like tough, flexible material, and is provided with lacings Z) at the front. In order to provide for taking up the slack beyond the line of the first eyelets 0, I provide one or more additionallines'of eyelets 0; so that any shrinkage in the limb may be amply compensated for by the use of the extra lines of eyelets, and if it be found that because of shrinkage of the limb the first line of eyelets becomes useless, then the material in which these eyelets are Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

Serial No. 73,570.

mounted may be cut away, leaving the next line of eyelets to be used. The band cZ, passes around the limb just below the knee and is provided at its rear portion with lac lngs as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, so that it may be lessened in size to fit the limb' snugly. This band is reinforced by having attached thereto a thin sheet-metal strip 0, so that when this band is drawn more tightly around the limb, its bearing on a sensitive part may be avoided as the band may be shaped, by reason of the employment of the sheet-metal reinforcing, to maintain a predetermined shape and thus prevent its bearing too strongly against a sensitive part.

The lower or stump-receiving part 7", to which the foot portion of the limb is attached, is made of wood or other suitable material and is provided in its upper portion with a suitable socket to receive the stump. The construction of the top portion of the lower member f and its relation to the band (Z located next above it is best illustrated in Fig. 3, of the drawings the same being a plan view taken on line 0000 of Fig. 1. The lower edge of the band cZ rests upon the upper edge of the member f and outside the flange so that when the band (Z is lessened in diameter by taking up on the lacings and drawing the free edges of the band toward each other, the shape of the portion of the band (Z resting 011 the top of the member 7 will not be changed, except as to that portion thereof that is not hearing against the flange 9. This enables me to avoid undue pressure upon sensitive portions of the limb and to arrange so that the take-up and pressure is on the portion of the limb that is least sensitive and less liable to be injured by the pressure caused by the tightening of the band. While the flange is usually located at the rear portion, in some instances it may be located at the front and in either event may extend on one side farther than on the other. In said figure, the metal part to which the parts (Z and f are attached is lettered 2'. The reinforcing metal band 6 secured to the band cZ enables me to maintain the band (Z in uniform shape and is shown extending around the front and side parts but not around the 'rearpart of the member (Z. lVhile the size of these parts may be varied by drawing up or letting out the lacings, a variation to any large extent by this means moves the metal-hinged members, part i, out of proper location and results in undue pressure on the tender parts of the limb. To overcome this objectionable result, I provide for changing the location of the metal parts on the bands 00 and (Z. This I accomplish by providing supplementary lines of bolt-receiving openings, one or more such lines being provided at each side of the metal members. The metal parts are secured to the bands a and (Z by screws or bolts and these being adapted to be removed are changed in location so that they enter the line of openings to the right or left of the central line, and thus the proper location of the hinge members is secured and the direct draw of the lacings will be from the lines of metal instead of throughout the whole band, and thus undue pressure at objectionable points be avoided. In order to permit the metal joint members to spring in slightly I cut away the material of the part 7 at the top, below the metal piece 2' thus allowing a partial compression at these points.

The check strap 70 is attached to the top portion of the member a and extends downwardly inside the lacings to and is attached to the top portion of the member 7". This strap is designed to prevent undue strain on the hinge, and aids in preventing tendency of the foot portion to swing too far forwardly. Similar straps have heretofore been employed, but they have been attached to the lower part of the member a and it is found in practice that the strap when so attached, breaks away or draws improperly on the member a while when attached to the member a at its top portion no discomfort results'and the draw or strain is such that the result is much more satisfactory.

It will readily be seen that very many modifications in detail of construction may be made Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having therefore describ'ed'my invention, what I claim is: r

1. The combination in an artificial leg, of a thigh-band a, having means to adjust the same as to diameter, and having a plurality of parallel lines of openings Z, metal pieces h secured to the band by bolts passing through one of said lines of openings, a lower band or socket (Z, a metal piece 2' secured thereto in like manner, said metal pieces h and 2' being hinged together in the space of separation between the two bands substantially as shown.

2. In an artificial leg, the combination of a band as (Z with a: wide metal reinforcing piece 6 attached thereto and extending part way only around the band.

3. The combination in an artificial leg, of a member f having an upwardly projecting flange-like member 9 extending part way only around member f, and a band (Z adapted to rest with its lower edge upon the top of member f outside of the flange 9 and bearing against the outer surface of the flange, substantially as shown.

4. The combination in an artificial leg of a thigh-band a, hinged straps 7L and 2', a calf member 7 and a strap 70 attached to the top portion of the band a and extending downwardly inside the band a to and attached to the outside of member 7.

BAR-THOLOMEW M. KENNEDY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

